Transfer Music from External Hard Drive to iTunes

I got a new computer and all of my music is saved on an external hard drive. I thought I saved the music to the new computer by going to File, Add folder to library, and selecting the different music files from there. But whenever I take the hard drive out and try to play the music, it says iTunes can't find the song. How can I permanently add the files to iTunes?

iTunes lets you play music from external hard drive. However, after disconnecting your iPhone/iPod/iPad to the PC, you may find that the music is unavailable in iTunes. If this happens to you, you need to get an iTunes companion, which helps you play music from external hard drive in iTunes permanently. Wondershare TunesGo (Windows) or Wondershare TunesGo (Mac) is a right option for you. With its help, you're able to transfer music from external hard drive to iTunes without a hitch. In addition, you can play the music in iTunes library at any time, even when the external hard drive is being disconnected.

Try this tool to copy music from external hard drive to iTunes.

Note: The Mac version named Wondershare TunesGo (Mac) supports iPod touch 5, iPhone 5s,iPhone 5c, iPhone 4S, iPad mini, iPad with Retina display, etc. The Windows version is compatible with more Apple devices. Here, you can get more info about supported Apple devices.

How to transfer music from external hard drive to iTunes

Install and run the right version of this tool on your PC. Here, let's focus on the Windows version. Now, check out the full guide below.

Step 1. Connect the external hard drive and iPhone/iPad/iPod to the PC

First of all, use the USB cables to connect your iPhone/iPod/iPad and the external hard drive to the PC. Your iPhone/iPod/iPad will be quickly detected by TunesGo, and then it will show up in the main window. After recognized by the PC, the external hard drive will be shown on the PC.

Step 2. Transfer music from external hard drive to iPod/iPhone/iPad

Then, before transferring music from external hard drive to iTunes, you should copy the music to iPod/iPad/iPhone first. In the left-hand column, click "Media". By default, the music window is shown on the right. Or, click "Music" to get the right window.

Click the inverted triangle under "Add". This brings up 2 options. When you want to add music files, choose "Add File". If you just decide to add the music folder on external hard hard, click "Add Folder". After the file browser window pops up, navigate to the external hard drive and find the music. Select the music files you'd like to transfer to iTunes. Click "Open". Then music transfer process begins. Make sure your iPhone/iPad/iPod is connected all the time.

Step 3. Move music from iPod/iPhone/iPad to iTunes

And then, you can move the added music from iPod/iPhone/iPad to iTunes. Tick off the music files that you added from external hard drive. Then, click "Smart Export to iTunes" or click the triangle under "Export to" > "Export to iTunes Library".

By clicking "Smart Export to iTunes", this tool will automatically filter the songs that have been in iTunes and move all the left.

By clicking the triangle under "Export to" > "Export to iTunes Library", you can copy songs selectively to iTunes library. However, this may cause you copy the same songs to iTunes.

That's the full guide about how to move music from external hard drive to iTunes. You can check the music in iTunes. With this tool, you can freely play music from external hard drive in iTunes without connecting it to the PC. Besides music, you can also copy movies, audiobook, music videos and more media on external hard drive to iTunes.